PFI/PPP Contracts

Lord Tebbit: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they know the total extent of off balance sheet borrowing and contingent liabilities of national and local government bodies through private finance initiative and public private partnership schemes.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: It is estimated that by the end of this year the value of PFI/PPP contracts signed will increase private sector capital expenditure on public services to over £25 billion. Revised estimates are published annually in the Budget and updated during the financial year under arrangements agreed with the National Audit Office. This figure represents all signed PFI/PPP signed contracts. In accordance with the substance of individual contracts, some will be accounted for as on the public sector purchaser's balance sheet and some as off the public sector purchaser's balance sheet. But the final determination of the accounting treatment is made only in the financial year in which the contract becomes operational and subject to independent external audit.
	Information on the accounting treatment of operational PFI/PPP schemes is contained in the accounts of individual public sector bodies. Contingent liabilities arising from PFI/PPP, such as guarantees, commitments or other rights obligations, are also disclosed in the notes to the accounts.

PFI/PPP Contracts

Lord Barnett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 23 October (HL Deb, cols. 1329–32), whether they will explain how the additional interest cost involved in going to the private sector is approximately 0.25 per cent of the total cost of construction and maintenance in private finance initiative projects; and whether there are any other additional costs.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: I very much regret that the figure for the difference between the cost of public and private finance which I gave in my earlier Answer was based on an assessment given to the House of Commons last year which I am now advised was incorrect. I apologise to the House for this mistake. I am advised that it is not in fact possible to make a direct comparison between the absolute cost of raising PFI finance and the cost of conventionally financing a project, since PFI funding cannot be replaced by conventional funding without other aspects of a scheme changing, for example its capital cost.
	Nevertheless, it remains true that the higher cost of PFI borrowing makes comparatively little difference to the overall cost of projects. Capital expenditure generally constitutes a relatively small part of the total costs of a PFI project (often around a quarter to a third), and the cost of private sector borrowing generally differs from the public sector's cost by between one and three percentage points, depending on market conditions and the risk profile of the project.

Unfunded Public Service Pensions

Lord Hayhoe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the estimated liability represented by unfunded public service pensions over each of the next five years.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Estimated expenditure on unfunded public service pensions, net of employee contributions, in 2002–03 totals about £13.2 billion. The Government Actuary has estimated corresponding net expenditure in 2007–08 will be £13.8 billion assuming constant earnings. The total over the five-year period is estimated to be about £68 billion net at constant earnings.

EMU

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, if a referendum on the euro is called, the sterling/euro entry rate will be announced before the referendum takes place, or, if the result is in favour of joining the euro, afterwards.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: These are important issues that would need to be considered in the event that the five economic tests were met and the Government made a decision to join EMU. The Government have said that they will only recommend joining a successful single currency if it is in the national economic interest and the economic benefits are clear and unambiguous.

Fire Authorities: Terrorist Attacks

Baroness Hanham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, what additional responsibilities were placed on fire authorities; what progress fire authorities have made in taking on these responsibilities; and whether they have received additional funding to support them.

Lord Rooker: Under a memorandum of understanding between the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions and the Department of Health in January 2002, each fire authority was asked to draw up a local agreement with the health service organisations for their area covering areas of mutual interest. This included the circumstances which would lead to the delegation of operations from the local ambulance service to the fire service where mass decontamination is required.
	To take the above work forward, fire authorities have been involved in the establishment of regional planning teams in England and Wales, the specification and order of equipment and the development of training.
	Her Majesty's Government have agreed that £43 million should be provided for mass decontamination equipment, including personal protective equipment for firefighters, in addition to £13 million for revenue costs. In July the Deputy Prime Minister laid a minute before Parliament providing an indemnity, above the limits of public liability covered by normal commercial insurance, to fire authorities engaged in providing a mass decontamination facility.

Mortgage Costs as a Percentage of Gross Household Income

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion total mortgage payments represented of total household income in 2001, 2000, 1999, 1996 and 1991 in each of the regions and nations of the United Kingdom.

Lord Rooker: The information available closest to those years requested is provided in the table. Information is not available for 1991. Figures are shown for Great Britain because the Family Resources Survey does not cover Northern Ireland.
	
		Mortgage costs as a percentage of gross household income: households with a mortgage in Great Britain per cent 
		
			  1995–96 1996–97 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 
			 North East 8 8 9 8 8 
			 North West and Merseyside 8 7 8 8 8 
			 Yorks and Humberside 8 7 8 8 7 
			 East Midlands 8 7 8 7 8 
			 West Midlands 8 8 8 8 9 
			 Eastern 9 8 10 8 8 
			 London 10 9 10 10 9 
			 South East 10 9 10 9 10 
			 South West 9 9 9 8 9 
			 England 9 8 9 8 9 
			 Wales 7 6 7 6 7 
			 Scotland 9 8 8 8 8 
			 Great Britain 9 8 9 8 8 
		
	
	Source: Family Resources Survey, Department for Work and Pensions.
	(1) Total mortgage costs of owner occupiers consists of mortgage payments, endowment policies, structural insurance and service payments.
	(2) Total household income consists of gross income from all sources before deduction of income tax and national insurance.

Local Authority Election Voting

Lord Harrison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a citizen who is registered to vote in two local authorities may vote in elections held in each local authority on the same day.

Lord Rooker: Under Section 2(2)(b) of the Representation of the People Act 1983, a citizen who is registered to vote in two local authorities may not vote in elections held in more than one local authority on the same day (i.e. at an ordinary election), unless one or both are by-elections held to fill casual vacancies.

Perfume Manufacture: Safety

Lord Beaumont of Whitley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they regulate the safety to the public of the chemicals used by perfume manufacturers.[HL6221] The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The safety of cosmetics in the UK, including perfumes, is subject to the Cosmetics (Safety) Regulations 1996. The regulations implement a European directive and require that all cosmetic products sold to the consumer must be safe under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use.
	The regulations specify ingredients and their allowable levels which can be used in cosmetics. In addition, all cosmetic products are subject to a health and safety assessment by a suitably experienced/qualified person before they are placed on the market.
	The proposed Seventh Amendment to the Cosmetic Directive specifies, among other things, that the 26 most common fragrances which are known to cause allergies will be subject to additional labelling requirements. This is to be welcomed as it will improve the information available to the consumer.
	ECGD: Coal-fired Power Stations

Lord Williams of Elvel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department has since 1997 supported (a) coal-fired power stations in Malaysia to the extent of £500 million; (b) coal-fired power stations in China to the extent of £200 million; and (c) coal-fired power stations in Zimbabwe and Turkey; and if so, whether this support is consistent with the Prime Minister's call on all other nations to implement the Kyoto protocol.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Since 1997 ECGD has provided cover for exports to coal-fired power stations in:
	(a) Malaysia valued at £770 million,
	(b) China valued at £291 million,
	(c) Zimbabwe valued at £9 million, and
	(d) Turkey valued at £34 million.
	Under the Kyoto Protocol, developed countries have legally binding targets to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emission. Developing countries do not have such targets but they do have an obligation to limit their emissions.
	Although the UK encourages the use of more environmentally friendly means of power generation, it is up to individual governments to decide their own power generation strategies. Government policy for power generation in the UK is to continue to use a diverse range of energy sources in order to ensure security of supply, and it is not for the UK to deny that option to other countries.
	UK companies sell goods and services to coal-fired power stations abroad and some of these exports make use of cover from ECGD. This is in line with the UK Government's policy to promote sustainable development and the use of cleaner coal technologies for coal-fired power generation. Many developing countries (such as China) do not at present have readily available alternatives to coal as their major source of fuel and the UK's aim is to encourage them to adopt high efficiency and cleaner coal technologies to reduce emissions. Provided that emissions are controlled ECGD believes that the economic and social benefits resulting from the availability of electrical power are usually sufficient to outweigh the potential environmental impact of the associated greenhouse gas emissions, but ECGD considers each case on its own merits.
	ECGD is keen to support electricity generation from renewable resources. As the Prime Minister announced in September, the ECGD will help developing countries limit their greenhouse gas emissions by making available at least £50 million of cover each year, from next April, for creditworthy exports in the renewable energy sector. This is not a cap and should it receive viable applications for a greater level of business ECGD will consider raising the level of support available. This initiative will assist countries to meet their power generation requirements in a sustainable way and their obligations under Kyoto.

e-greeting Cards: Unsolicited Commercial e-mail

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What their policy is towards the marketing technique, closely allied to the practice of spamming and recently reported in the media in respect of e-greeting cards, whereby computer users are invited to install an application on their computer, the licence of which grants permission for e-mails to be sent to all contacts in a user's e-mail address book.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The recent media reports concern an e-mail that invites the recipient to collect an e-greetings card from one of two websites. On visiting one of these websites, the recipient is invited to install an application onto their computer in order to view the e-greetings card. The installation process includes the display of two end user licence agreements, the second of which states that by installing the application the user is allowing a similar greetings card to be sent to all the e-mail addresses in the user's e-mail address book, and that if they object to this they should not download, install, access or use the websites concerned. It is only by agreeing to these licence agreements that recipients will allow their own contacts to be e-mailed in the same way.
	Although all but the initial e-mail addresses are supplied by the recipients, the originators of this e-mail are sending direct marketing communications by means of unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE). The Government encourage all direct marketers to adopt responsible techniques, to take account of consumer preferences where available and to target their marketing as far as possible. The regulatory framework for UCE, including industry codes of conduct and legislation, is still developing. The Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 require UCE to be easily identifiable as such as soon as it is received, enabling automatic filtering or deletion. The new Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications to be implemented by October 2003 will require an opt-in approach to UCE sent to individuals except where there is an existing relationship between the parties.

Unsolicited Sales or Polling Faxes

Lord Jacobs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether senders of unsolicited sales or polling faxes are required to display their names, addresses and telephone numbers; and whether the recipients of such faxes have any power to prevent further faxes being sent to them.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Under the Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999, the sending of direct marketing faxes to individual subscribers is banned unless the subscribers have given their prior consent. The regulations also set up a central opt-out list, called the Fax Preference Service (FPS), primarily for corporate subscribers but individuals may also register as an additional protection. Direct marketers are obliged to ensure that they do not send direct marketing faxes to numbers appearing on the FPS list unless they have prior consent to do so.
	The regulations also require that all direct marketing faxes that are sent must include the sender's name and either their address or a freephone telephone number through which they can be contacted.
	Further details, including how to register with the FPS and how to complain about apparent breaches of the regulations, are available on the DTI website at the following URL: http://www.dti.gov.uk/cii/regulatory/telecomms/telecommsregulations/explan.shtml.

Energy-supplying Wind Farms

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any more energy-supplying wind farms are planned for north west England.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Applications for consent to construct and operate wind farms with a capacity greater than 50 megawatts on-shore and greater than 1 megawatt off-shore are considered by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is currently considering two such applications for off-shore wind farms at Walney Island off Barrow and Burbo Bank off North Wirral. No such applications for on-shore wind farms in the north west are under consideration.
	Applications for wind farms with a capacity of 50 megawatts or below on-shore are dealt with under the normal planning regime. The Department of Trade and Industry does not keep a register of such applications.

Education Spending: IT Projects

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion and value of the budget of public sector education was spent on information technology projects and procurement in each of the last five years.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The table below sets out the value of information technology programmes supported by specific central government grant as a proportion of overall expenditure on education in England. Since data are not collected centrally on how much schools, colleges or universities also choose to spend on information technology from their core budgets, which account for the vast majority of the overall public sector education budget, the figures necessarily understate the overall investment in information technology over the last five years.
	
		
			 IT grant 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
			 £ million 105 130 301 580 865 
			 % of total budget 0.3 0.4 0.8 1.4 2.0

BBC: Recruitment

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether in view of the BBC's obligation to be politically impartial they will discuss with the Chairman of the BBC the placing of job advertisements only in the Guardian.

Baroness Blackstone: The recruitment of its staff is a matter for the BBC, but I understand that its policy is to select the medium most likely to produce, cost effectively, a diverse range of suitably qualified candidates. In the year to June 2002, it advertised in over 250 external media, both in print and online.

Treasury Silver: Loan to V & A

Lord Freyberg: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will reclassify the Treasury silver on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum as a non-operational heritage asset.

Baroness Blackstone: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has agreed a long-term loan of the Treasury silver to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Accounting standards require the substance of transactions to be reflected in the museum's accounts. In the case of the Treasury silver it is the Victoria and Albert Museum which is enjoying the rewards of ownership and bearing the risks. The museum will therefore classify the silver as a non-operational heritage asset and include in its balance sheet as a capitalised addition to its existing collection.

Government Services On-line: Functional Modules

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What the implications are for data privacy of the e-Delivery Team's advocacy of functional modules engines as one of the means of delivering all government services on-line by 2005.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: Functional modules allow common services to be provided to government departments, creating economies of scale benefits through a build once-use many philosopy. These modules themselves only provide functionality, such as secure mail or authentication, and do not themselves have a privacy implication.
	These modules are constructed into services, such as the Government Gateway or ukonline.gov.uk. All of these services have detailed privacy policies, require opt-in from users and are fully compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998.

Public Bodies: Ministerial Appointments

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, and if so in what way, the provisions of the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies will ensure independent, transparent and effective scrutiny of future ministerial appointments to the Commission for Racial Equality, the Disability Rights Commission, and the Equal Opportunities Commission; and, if they will not, what steps they will take to ensure such scrutiny.

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: All government departments are required to follow the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice when processing public appointments which fall within the Commissioner's remit, as these bodies do. The code will therefore be followed when appointments to these bodies are made. The code of practice is designed to ensure that the appointment process is fair, transparent and open and commands public confidence. The code is underpinned by the seven principles arising from the recommendations of the First Report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life. Appointment on merit is the overriding consideration in the appointments process and care must be taken at every stage not to discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, age, disability, religion, marital status, sexual orientation or community background. Independent scrutiny is a mandatory element in every competition and this underwrites the integrity of the competition process. Independent assessors should always be used at the selection stage, which deals with the identification and selection of candidates and may be involved in earlier stages of the process.

NHS: Elecronic Patient Records

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the target date for the implementation of electronic patient records in England and Wales, Scotland and Norther Ireland.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The design and implementation of electronic patient records in England is provided for in Delivering 21st Century IT Support for the NHS, the updated information technology strategy for the National Health Service in England. This includes the introduction of Integrated Care Records Services (ICRS) which will enable all NHS organisations to have electronic records for all patients. The target date for full introduction of ICRS is 2008.
	Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved administrations.

Morning-after Pill

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the finding of a study published in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy in March that omitting to inform women of the potential pre-implantation effects of the morning-after pill on a newly-conceived embryo may result in inadequate informed consent.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The authors of this study use the term "early abortion" to refer to the prevention of a fertilised egg implanting in the womb. On 18 April this year, the High Court ruled that the prevention of implantation of a fertilised egg, which is brought about by emergency contraception products, does not amount to procuring a miscarriage under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. The patient information leaflet supplied with the product gives clear information about the ways in which emergency contraception pills work. We therefore do not agree with the findings of this study.

Gillick v. West Norfolk and Wisbech Health Authority

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the ruling of Gillick v. West Norfolk and Wisbech Health Authority applies to any areas of treatment, other than abortion and family planning services.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Following the case of Gillick v. West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority the courts have held that children who have sufficient understanding and intelligence to enable them to understand fully what is involved in a proposed intervention will also have the capacity to consent to that intervention. Only the courts can rule on the precise scope of the judgment. However, in the view of the Government it sets a general principle which would be applicable to consent for treatment in areas of treatment other than abortion and family planning services.

GPs: Conscientious Objection to Abortion

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a General Practitioner with a conscientious objection to abortion is still required to give advice to patients and perform the preparatory steps to arrange an abortion; and, if so, whether this is:
	(a) consistent with the original aims of the conscience clause included in the Abortion Act 1967; and
	(b) consistent with the advice provided by the Ministry of Health when Parliament was debating the conscience clause that such a clause was not necessary.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Section 4 of the Abortion Act 1967, which was agreed on a free vote by both Houses, allows doctors with a conscientious objection to abortion not to participate in treatment. The scope of the clause was clarified by the House of Lords' decision in the case of Janaway v. Salford Health Authority in 1988, which stated that in order to claim conscientious exemption under Section 4 of the Act, the objector had to be required to take part in administering treatment in a hospital or approved centre. Practitioners cannot claim exemption from giving advice or performing the preparatory steps to arrange an abortion where the request meets legal requirements. If a general practitioner has a conscientious objection to abortion, the patient should be advised and referred to another doctor if that is the patient's wish. Refusal to participate in the paperwork or administration connected with abortion procedures also lies outside the terms of the conscience clause.
	The General Medical Council (GMC) booklet Good Medical Practice states that general practitioners' views about a patient's lifestyle or beliefs must not prejudice the treatment they provide or arrange. If they feel their beliefs might affect the treatment, this must be explained to the patient, who should be told of their right to see another doctor. Breach of this guidance may expose a doctor to a charge of serious professional misconduct and disciplinary action by the GMC. The British Medical Association has also issued guidance to its colleagues on this issue.

NHS Spending: Primary Care Trusts

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish their estimates of the amount of National Health Service spending per head of population analysed by primary care trust for 2002–03.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Health authorities share their recurrent allocation between their constituent primary care trusts in line with guidance issued by the Department of Health.
	Primary care trust shares of 2002–03 health authority recurrent allocations per head of population are shown in the table which has been placed in the Library.

NHS: EU Procurement Rules

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 22 July (WA 26), how many advertisements for international establishment projects have been placed in the Official Journal of the European Community to date.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Work is in hand, as part of the wider capacity planning process currently under way in the National Health Service, to identify a first set of schemes to offer to the market as part of the follow-up to the Growing Capacacity prospectus launched in June this year. We expect the first invitations to tender for these and other schemes to develop diversity of provision in elective surgery in England to be issued in the near future.

Primary Care Trust Patients' Forums

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the basis for their estimate of the number of staff that will be required by primary care trust patients' forums to enable them to carry out their statutory functions satisfactorily; and what roles are envisaged for such staff.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health's chair designate and her interim team, along with the Department of Health, are still considering potential structures for the organisation of and staffing levels for patients' forums. The assumptions assisting current discussions are around ensuring sufficient support for patients' forums members and effective delivery of the functions of both bodies. As yet no conclusions have been reached.
	Staff attached to primary care trust patients' forums will support the forums, undertake all their functions and will help them work together.

Abortion

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the report of the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Estonia of January which stated that "as far as the Committee [on Elimination of Discrimination against Women] was concerned . . . abortion was not a part of women's reproductive rights".

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Legislation on abortion issues is a matter for individual countries.
	As Parliament has decided that abortions may lawfully be carried out in England, Scotland and Wales in the circumstances specified in the Abortion Act 1967 (as amended), the Government consider that facilities for abortion treatment should be available. The Government also have a duty to see that the provisions of the Act are properly applied.

Abortion

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they agree with the report of the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Discrimination against Women on Estonia of January which stated that repeat abortions could entail physical complications, psychological problems and infertility.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The safety and psychological effects of abortion were considered by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in its evidence-based guideline The Care of Women Requesting Induced Abortion (2000). The college's report concludes that immediate complications are uncommon and that possible long-term effects, including breast cancer, infertility and psychological sequelae, are rare or unproven. However, as multiple repeat abortions are uncommon in this country, there are no reliable data which quantify physical and psychological sequelae including infertility.

Abortion

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What information they have about links between abortion and physical or sexual abuse.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We are not aware of any research which considers whether women who have suffered physical or sexual abuse and who subsequently become pregnant are more likely to seek to terminate that pregnancy.
	In 2001, there were 10 abortions performed on residents of England and Wales under Section 1(1)(a) and (b) of the Abortion Act 1967, as amended, where sexual abuse was cited as a main medical condition.

Pregnant Women: Smoking

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they are currently undertaking against the smoking of tobacco and cannabis by pregnant women.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: A working group has been recently convened to produce a report to advise government on the evidence of harms associated with using cannabis and smoking tobacco; drawing on expertise from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and the Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health.
	The group has met on two occasions to date and is aiming to provide a report in the middle of next year.
	The White Paper Smoking Kills, published December 1998, announced targets to reduce smoking prevalence in children, in adults and in pregnant women. The recently issued Priorities and Planning Framework 2003–2006 set the following target for smoking in pregnancy: "deliver a one percentage point reduction per year in the proportion of women continuing to smoke throughout pregnancy, focusing especially on smokers from disadvantaged groups as a contribution to the national target to reduce by at least 10 per cent the gap in mortality between 'routine and manual' groups and the population as a whole by 2010, starting with children under one year".
	An important element of the overall tobacco strategy is the health education programme to which some £55 million has been allocated in the period 1999–2000 to 2002–03. The programme includes the Partners campaign which provides information and supportive material to pregnant women and their partners. The Department of Health also funds a helpline for pregnant smokers (0800 169 9169). This service offers call-backs to women to support them through the pregnancy.

NHS: Overseas Clinical Team Initiative

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many overseas doctors were working within the National Health Service in the week commencing 21 October under the scheme to get overseas teams of doctors to work within the National Health Service in order to clear waiting lists.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Overseas doctors working as part of the overseas clinical team initiative were working at five different sites in the week commencing 21 October 2002. Two surgeons and two anaesthetists were working at South Tyneside Healthcare Acute Trust, three surgeons were working at East Somerset NHS Trust, four surgeons and two anaesthetists were working at Morecambe Bay Hospitals NHS Trust, one doctor was working at Central Middlesex hospital and one surgeon was working at Hillingdon hospital.

NHS Recruitment Housing Costs

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that the high cost of housing in some parts of the country is frustrating the ability of National Health Service trusts to recruit doctors and nurses; and, if so, what arrangements they are encouraging to ameliorate this difficulty.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The high cost of housing is one of several factors that can affect the National Health Service's ability to recruit all staff (not just doctors and nurses). This is being addressed by the NHS Housing Initiative and cost of living supplements. The NHS Housing Initiative is part of the NHS Plan commitment to provide 2,000 additional units for nurses in London by July 2003. In addition, by 2004, around 5,000 NHS staff will have received assistance to purchase property under the Starter Home Initiative scheme. The Department of Health has also established a NHS accommodation website and helpline. Other issues that influence recruitment and retention, such as flexible working and access to childcare, are addressed by the Improving Working Lives Standard.

Adoption Support Services

Earl Howe: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimate they have made of the number of families likely to benefit from the ring-fenced funding of £70 million for adoption support services announced on 13 October.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: An extra £70 million is to be made available for adoption support services and special guardianship support services over the next three years. This comprises £12 million in 2003–04, £23 million in 2004–05 and £35 million in 2005–06.
	The funding will help councils to deliver the duties set out in the Adoption and Children Bill that will require them to make and participate in arrangements for the provision of adoption support services and in the future special guardianship support services. Adoption support services cover a very wide range of different types of assistance to those affected by adoption. Such assistance might range from the provision of basic information about services through oral advice or the provision of a leaflet, to financial support, to assistance with accessing multi-agency packages of care, and, in some cases, to intensive therapeutic intervention and support in order to prevent the avoidable breakdown of an adoptive placement.
	We expect this funding to be of significant benefit to children affected by adoption, their adoptive families and their birth families regardless of when the adoption took place. In the future this funding will also assist those affected by special guardianship. Precise figures of the numbers that will receive services are difficult to predict, but, given the broad scope of adoption support described above, many thousands of families affected by adoption will undoubtedly benefit to differing degrees.
	In terms of hard figures, the Government have set a public service agreement target to increase by 40 per cent and, if possible, by 50 per cent the number of looked after children adopted by 2004–05, from a baseline of 2,700 in 1999–2000. There is clear evidence to show that the numbers of children being adopted and the numbers of children being placed for adoption are increasing. During 2000–01, 3,100 looked after children were adopted in England and, in addition, at 31 March 2001 some 3,400 children were placed for adoption. If this trend continues, in each year of the grant we can expect there to be in the region of 7,000 looked after children who are newly adopted or are placed for adoption. Once the provisions of the Bill are in force and the grant is in payment, these children and their families will be eligible to seek support as will anyone else affected by adoption.
	This is not the first time this Government have specifically funded adoption services. We have already pledged £66.5 million of the Department of Health's spending review settlement over the 2001–02—2003–04 for adoption services.

In Vitro Fertilisation: Health Effects

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	For how long the Department of Health has known about dangers inherent in in vitro fertilisation and other assisted reproductive technologies; and
	What circumstances prompted the Secretary of State for Health to commission the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the Medical Research Council to conduct an investigation into safety aspects of in vitro fertilisation and other assisted reproductive technologies.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Medical Research Council and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority have established a working group to review current knowledge of in vitro fertilisation and its possible health effects. The group will advise on what further research may be necessary and how this might best be carried out. It is expected to report in 2003.
	The working group is a response to concerns that some assisted reproduction techniques may be associated with slightly higher rates of birth defects than natural conception.

In Vitro Fertilisation: Health Effects

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What account has been taken of dangers to public health in in vitro fertilisation procedures when considering the use of human embryos for the purpose of therapeutic cloning.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The principle of research on human embryos was debated during the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001, which were approved by large majorities in Parliament on a free vote. In accordance with those regulations, any research involving human embryos created by cell nuclear replacement (so-called therapeutic cloning) can only take place under licence by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
	In giving any such applications consideration, the authority would take account of the purpose and all of the implications of the research, including any dangers to public health should such exist.
	It is important to note, however, that the Human Reproductive Cloning Act 2001 bans embryos created by cell nuclear replacement ("cloning") from being used for reproductive purposes.

HFEA: Human Embryos

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many human embryos have been:
	(a) created;
	(b) frozen;
	(c) destroyed;
	(d) implanted; and
	(e) experimented upon since the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The latest available figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) are that 925,747 embryos have been created through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, 423,153 have been transferred for implantation, 225,627 stored for the patient's own use, 448 stored for the treatment of others and 53,497 given for research: 294,584 embryos remained unused during the course of IVF treatment cycles, including those considered non-viable for implantation. Figures are not collected routinely on the number of embryos allowed to perish because the statutory storage period had ended or because a patient had requested it.
	The figures relate to activity that the HFEA began recording in 1991 and reflect, for instance, that a number of embryos were already in storage at that time.

Care Home Sector: Red Tape

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the correspondence between the chairman of the Better Regulation Task Force and the Secretary of State for Health in respect of excessive red tape in the care home sector as referred to in the Financial Times on 25 October.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: In line with the Better Regulation Task Force Code of Practice on Access to Government Information Publication Scheme, the task force routinely publishes all of its responses to government consultation documents.

UK Food Processors: Food Safety

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the current outbreak of salmonella and the deaths of two people, when they will ensure that food processors are compelled to use raw materials produced to United Kingdom Health and Safety standards.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Food processors in the United Kingdom must comply with the Food Safety Act 1990 and food safety regulations made under it. Food processors are responsible for ensuring that food supplied is fit for its intended purpose.
	Local authorities monitor compliance with these requirements. Formal action may be taken against food processors in the event of non-compliance. General advice may also be given on related matters or about particular concerns, for example, by reiterating advice from the Food Standards Agency about use and consumption of various food commodities.

NHS Funding Formula

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received a report from the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation dealing with changes to the funding formula for the National Health Service; and, if so, whether they will publish that report.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We are currently considering the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation for a new National Health Service funding formula. Later this autumn when we announce the revenue allocations for the next three years we will explain changes to the formula. The team which carried out the research into the new formula plans to publish a full report of its findings.

NHS Funding Formula

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to consult about any changes to the funding formula for the National Health Service that would take account of health inequalities.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The existing formula used to allocate National Health Service resources has been reviewed by the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA). ACRA's terms of reference are to advise the Secretary of State for Health on the distribution of resources across primary and secondary care. ACRA is an expert body whose membership is made up of individuals with a wide range of relevant experience and expertise from within and outside the NHS. We do not consult on ACRA's recommendations.

NHS Budget: IT Projects

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion and value of the budget of the National Health Service was spent on information technology projects and procurement in each of the last five years.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The information requested is not held centrally. Budgets are devolved to local National Health Service organisations whose spend depends on local circumstances and requirements.

Patient and Public Involvement in Health

Lord Clement-Jones: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measures they will take in order to ensure that the good will, skills and experience of existing Community Health Council staff are retained to help run the new system of patient and public involvement.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: There will be no automatic transfers into the commission either for Community Health Council or Association of Community Health Councils for England and Wales staff. The commission is independent and fundamentally different from CHCs. However the Department of Health has recently agreed with Sharon Grant, chair designate, that jobs in the Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health will be advertised through CHC staff clearing houses as well as in the national and local press. CHC staff applying for a post within the commission who meet the specific job criteria would be guaranteed an interview.

NHS: Regulatory Requirements

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the level of regulatory burdens placed on the National Health Service and on private sector organisations which deal with the National Health Service is satisfactory.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government keep all regulatory requirements under review and have been taking action to reduce the burden of bureaucracy on front-line staff. For example, the Department of Health has worked with the Regulatory Impact Unit of the Cabinet Office on a number of projects aimed at producing practical solutions to minimise red tape in the health care sector. The current project is focused specifically on regulation and seeks to reduce or remove unnecessary or bureaucratic burdens on healthcare professionals caused by inspection, audit and accreditation and to ensure that this activity is joined up, targeted and proportionate.

Hepatitis C

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 9 October (WA 26), why the National Health Service has not yet responded to the last appraisal by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence of therapies for patients with chronic hepatitis C;
	What was the number of patients treated by the National Health Service for chronic hepatitis C in the United Kingdom in 2001; and how that number compared with Germany and France; and how the numbers of people identified as suffering from chronic hepatitis C in the three countries compare; and
	What is the latest figure available for the number of patients treated for chronic hepatitis C in the United Kingdom during 2002.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Health authority allocations for 2002–03 were increased by £3,704 million, or 9.9 per cent. A key priority for the use of additional funding is the implementation of guidance from the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. From 1 January 2002, the National Health Service is under a statutory obligation to provide appropriate funding for treatments or drugs which have been recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
	The Department of Health does not collect information centrally on the number of patients receiving treatment for hepatitis C. Treatment for hepatitis C in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.
	It is estimated that the prevalence of hepatitis C antibody in the general population of the United Kingdom is about 0.5 per cent. Studies in France and Germany have estimated that the prevalence of hepatitis C antibody in the general population is around 1.0 per cent and 0.4 per cent respectively. About 80 per cent of those infected with hepatitis C develop chronic infection.

Hepatitis C

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 9 October (WA 26), what funding is to be made available to implement their proposals outlined in the consultation document Hepatitis C Strategy for England.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: A number of funding streams will support the strategy. A major component has been included in health authority allocations to support the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommended combination drug treatments for moderate/severe liver disease caused by hepatitis C. Other funding streams are:
	Central funding of £1.3 million over two years (2002–03 and 2003–04) has been allocated for raising professional/public awareness and improving surveillance. Funding for future years has yet to be decided;
	Funding for the voluntary sector specifically for hepatitis C projects and for projects which are directed at prevention activities for injecting drug users in general has been increased and currently stands at around £0.2 million for 2002–03;
	HIV prevention funding includes health promotion for injecting drug users. From 2002–03 HIV prevention is funded through main National Health Service allocations and £55 million has been included for the coming year. From the returns collected under the AIDS (Control) Act, approximately 14 per cent (1999–2000) of the separate allocation (before mainstreaming) was spent on prevention work on injecting drug use.
	The Department of Health also has a central budget for drug misuse for the National Treatment Agency of £175.7 million for 2002–03.

Hepatitis C

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 9 October (WA 26), whether the National Health Service policy in England for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C is different from that in Scotland since 2000 in respect of positive appraisal guidance, access to recombinant blood products and addressing the compensation of patients infected with contaminated National Health Service blood products; and, if so, why.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Policy on health matters in Scotland is the responsibility of the devolved administration there. The development of different policies in different parts of the United Kingdom is an intended consequence of devolution and this can lead to different outcomes.
	The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued guidance on ribavirin and interferon combination therapy for hepatitis C in October 2000. It expects to issue guidance on pegylated interferons for the treatment of hepatitis C in November 2003. In the meantime, National Health Service bodies should continue with local arrangements for the managed introduction of new technologies where there is no guidance from NICE at the time the technology first becomes available, including assessing available evidence.
	The Government are still considering whether to make recombinant clotting factors available to all haemophiliacs in England taking full account of representations made by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Haemophilia, the Haemophilia Society, the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation and others. We hope to announce our decision before the end of 2002.
	We deeply regret that so many people were infected with hepatitis C through blood products. However, this Government and their predecessor have held that compensation is paid to patients only when the National Health Service has been at fault and that an exception to this rule is not justified in the case of people infected with hepatitis C.

Statins

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 26 February (WA 227), whether they have now considered whether further guidance is necessary on prescribing statins; and, if so, whether they have asked the National Institute for Clinical Excellence to formulate that advice.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We are still considering the need for further guidance in the light of recent new evidence of the benefits of statin therapy, including the results of the Heart Protection Study published on 5 July this year and evidence from the ASCOT study announced last month.

National Schedule of Reference Costs

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place a copy of the National Schedule of Reference Costs for 2001–02 in the Library of the House of Lords.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: A copy has been placed in the Library.

Environmental Management Systems

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs press release of 25 July on sustainable development, whether environmental management systems will cover government agencies as well as departments.

Lord Whitty: The press release of 25 July announced the publication of the Framework for Sustainable Development on the Government Estate (the framework). This includes government-wide targets for environmental management systems. The framework and all of its targets cover central government departments and their executive agencies. However, associated bodies are not included.
	The target for environmental management systems is as follows:
	Target A3
	All departments are to implement environmental management system(s) based, or modelled upon, a recognised standard (such as ISO14001, EMAS 2 or similar).
	For mainly office based estates:
	System(s) will be in place to cover:
	—all main offices by 31 March 2004
	—all other offices/sites by 31 March 2006
	For mixed or mainly non-office estates:
	System(s) should be in place to cover:
	—40 per cent of estate by 31 March 2004
	—80 per cent of estate by 31 March 2006
	The targets and progress against them can be viewed at http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/sdig/improving/index.htm.
	It should be noted that delivery plans for EMSs are due to be published on 24 November 2002 and will be available on the website.

Radiation Monitoring: North West England

Lord Fearn: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What monitoring of levels of radiation takes place in North West England.

Lord Whitty: Two comprehensive monitoring reports are published annually: one by the Environment Agency, Radioactivity in the Environment; and one by the Food Standards Agency and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Radioactivity in Food and the Environment. Both report on the results of monitoring in North West England.

Cod Fishing in the Irish Sea

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the present European Union Commission proposals for the fishing of cod in the Irish Sea; what is the perceived impact of these proposals on the Northern Ireland fishing industry; whether these proposals have any impact upon the fishing of nephrops; whether they will impact upon the Portavogie fish processing plants; and what representations have been made to the European Union Commission.

Lord Whitty: The European Commission has yet to come forward with its proposals for the setting of total allowable catches for 2003. We expect this information will be available in mid-November once the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries has met and delivered its recommendations.

Sustainable Development

Baroness David: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish their response to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee's Fourth Report of Session 2001–02, Measuring the Quality of Life: The 2001 Sustainable Development Headline Indicators.

Lord Whitty: We are pleased to announce that copies of the Government's response to the Environmental Audit Committee's Fourth Report of Session 2001–02, Measuring the Quality of Life: The 2001 Sustainable Development Headline Indicators, have been laid in the Libraries of both Houses.
	The Government's response reinforces our commitment to reporting progress towards sustainable development, particularly through a set of headline indicators. In our sustainable development strategy A better qualify of life, published in 1999, we envisaged a full review of both the strategy and all the indicators after five years, which we will aim to complete by the end of 2004.

Attorneys General: Warnings to Editors about the Possibility of Contempt of Court

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On how many occasions in the last seven years the Attorney-General has warned editors of newspapers about the possibility of contempt of court; and what were the dates and incidents which gave rise to each specific concern.

Lord Goldsmith: Records are not kept of the total number of occasions when Attorney-Generals have written to editors about the possibility of contempt of court over the last seven years. However, if circumstances warrant it, the Attorney-General will issue a note of guidance to editors reminding them of their general obligations regarding contempt.
	It is not possible to provide information about the total number of occasions guidance has been issued without incurring disproportionate costs, but by way of examples. Since I became Attorney-General, guidance was issued on more than one occasion in relation to the Thompson and Venables injunction and more recently in relation to the press coverage of the Soham murder case.
	In addition, where specific articles are drawn to my attention, I may write to editors asking for their representations. As a result, either proceedings are commenced, or where proceedings do not result, I may remind editors of their continuing obligations in relation to contempt. By way of an example, and before proceedings were commenced, I wrote to the editor of the Sunday Mirror following the publication of a prejudicial article on 8 April 2001 which ultimately led to the collapse of the first trial involving Leeds United football players.
	I have also written to a number of newspapers in relation to their coverage of the Soham murder case and correspondence is continuing.

House of Lords: Composition

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 10 June (WA 1-2)
	(a) what statistically the number in each party would be likely to be in each of the next 10 years if no further life Peers are created; and (b) whether they will give projections on the same basis for each year from 2013 to 2032 inclusive.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The Lords Temporal in the House of Lords are presently composed of life peers and 92 hereditary. For the purposes of answering this question, it will be assumed that the hereditary peers will continue to sit in the House in their present party strengths throughout the period. This assumption is obviously subject to future legislative change. The present strength of each party, excluding those who belong to no party but including hereditary peers, is:
	Conservative 217
	Labour 191
	Liberal Democrat 65
	
		The projected figures requested, on the same basis, are set out in the attached table. Survival of life Peers by party 
		
			 Year Conservative Labour Lib-Dem Total 
			 7.10.02 217 191 65 473 
			 1.07.03 217 186 64 467 
			 1.07.04 210 181 63 454 
			 1.07.05 204 176 61 441 
			 1.07.06 198 170 59 427 
			 1.07.07 192 165 58 415 
			 1.07.08 185 160 57 402 
			 1.07.09 179 155 55 389 
			 1.07.13 104 130 44 366 
			 1.07.14 150 129 48 327 
			 1.07.15 144 124 47 315 
			 1.07.16 139 119 45 303 
			 1.07.17 134 114 44 292 
			 1.07.18 129 109 42 280 
			 1.07.19 124 103 41 340 
			 1.07.20 119 99 39 257 
			 1.07.21 114 94 38 246 
			 1.07.22 110 86 36 235 
			 1.07.23 53 80 30 207 
			 1.07.24 101 79 34 214 
			 1.07.25 97 74 32 203 
			 1.07.26 94 69 30 193 
			 1.07.27 90 65 29 184 
			 1.07.28 86 60 28 174 
			 1.07.29 83 56 26 165 
			 1.07.30 80 52 25 157 
			 1.07.31 77 48 23 148 
			 1.07.32 74 44 22 140 
			 1.07.10 173 150 54 377 
			 1.07.11 167 144 53 364 
			 1.07.12 162 139 51 352

Data Protection Act 1998: Costs of Compliance

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have made any assessment of the costs of compliance with data protection legislation; and if so, what are the costs of (i) inception of data protection regimes and (ii) annual maintenance costs for local authorities; and
	Whether they have made any assessment of the costs of compliance with data protection legislation; and if so, what are the costs of (i) inception of data protection regimes and (ii) annual maintenance costs, for Government departments; and
	Whether they have made any assessment of the costs of compliance with data protection legislation; and if so, what are the costs of (i) inception of data protection regimes and (ii) annual maintenance costs, for the National Health Service; and
	Whether they have made any assessment of the costs of compliance with data protection legislation; and if so, what are the costs of (i) inception of data protection regimes and (ii) annual maintenance costs, for United Kingdom companies which employ:
	(a) fewer than 20 persons
	(b) between 20 and 50 persons
	(c) between 50 and 250 persons
	(d) more than 250 persons.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: A regulatory impact assessment was prepared for the Bill that became the Data Protection Act 1998. The assessment contains details of both non-recurring and recurring compliance costs for business (including small businesses); charities and voluntary organisations; and local and central government. A copy of the document is available in the House Library and on the Lord Chancellor's Department website at: http://www.lcd.gov.uk/ccpd/dpara.htm

Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate: Chief Inspector's Annual Report

Baroness David: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the next annual report of the chief inspector, Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate, will be published.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: I have today placed copies of the chief inspector's annual report in the Libraries of both Houses.
	For the first time the annual report includes the inspectorate's new responsibility for the inspection of the Children and Family Court and Advisory Support Service (CAFCASS). In March 2002 the inspectorate published a progress report on its work with CAFCASS (Setting Up) which highlighted some of the difficulties the new body had faced during its first year in existence. In his latest report, the chief inspector points to encouraging signs of progress, such as the publication of CAFCASS's first corporate plan and its work on developing draft national standards.
	Magistrates' Courts Committees (MCCs) are seen to have contributed significantly to achieving the Government's target to reduce delay in the processing of persistent young offenders. The chief inspector reports that MCCs have also handled well the transfer of warrant execution from the police to the courts. This was a major piece of work and for understandable reasons there was some slippage in performance. Some criticisms remain of MCCs ability to ensure systems are in place to manage performance at a strategic level.

Data Protection Act 1998: Prosecutions

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prosecutions, sorted by category of offence, there have been for breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 in each year since the legislation came into force; and what was the average fine for each category of offence in each year.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Wales and Northern Ireland proceedings for a criminal offence under the Data Protection Act 1988 can be commenced by the Information Commissioner or by, or with the consent of, the Director of Public Prosecutions in England and Wales (or in Northern Ireland the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.) In Scotland, criminal proceedings are brought by the Procurator Fiscal. The only readily available information relates to proceedings brought by, or with the knowledge of, the Information Commissioner.
	I understand that the commissioner has brought three such proceedings under the Act since it came into force on 1 March 2000 and convictions were achieved in all three. The cases were all heard in 2002. All involved offences under Section 55 of the Act (unlawful obtaining etc of personal data). Convictions were obtained for a total of 12 offences; five for obtaining; three for selling; three for attempting to obtain; and one for disclosing personal data unlawfully. The average fine imposed was £200.
	In addition, in one of the cases, a conviction was obtained for failure to notify under Section 21(1) of the Act. The fine imposed was £250.
	There have been no criminal proceedings commenced by the Procurator Fiscal under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Northern Ireland: Court Accommodation

Lord Morgan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are yet in a position to announce their proposals relating to court accommodation in Northern Ireland

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: After full consideration of all the information gathered during the public consultation exercise which followed the issue of the consultation document Court Accommodation in Northern Ireland 2001–10, it has been decided that the courthouses at Clogher and Cookstown will close at the end of this year and business will be transferred to the new courthouse at Dungannon. Business currently dealt with in rented accommodation in Kilkeel will transfer to Newry courthouse.
	The courthouses at Banbridge and Larne will remain as court venues as will Limavady courthouse. Hearings at Limavady courthouse will be restricted to magistrates' courts adult criminal business. The future of Limavady courthouse will be reviewed in light of business trends and with particular regard to the outcome of the review of public administration in Northern Ireland and any changes this necessitates in court divisional boundaries.
	The court service will conduct a feasibility study in the North Down area on the possibility of replacing the existing courthouses at Bangor and Newtownards. Consideration will also be given to upgrading or replacing the courthouse at Lisburn.

Damages for Future Loss

Lord Barnett: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they intend to take forward proposals which were consulted on in the consultation paper Damages for Future Loss: Giving Courts the Power to Order Periodical Payments for Future Loss and Care Costs, published on 13 March 2002.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Lord Chancellor has today published the post-consultation report to the consultation paper Damages for Future Loss. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. A majority of respondents agreed with the Government's proposal that courts should have the power to award damages for future loss and care costs in the form of periodical payments. The Government intend to legislate when a suitable opportunity arises.

Turkey

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will raise with the European Union the issue of education in the Kurdish language for pupils in state schools and for university students in those parts of Turkey where there is a strong demand.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We welcome the recent package of reforms passed by the Turkish Parliament, which permits the teaching of Kurdish in private courses.
	The Commission's 2002 regular report notes that a number of court cases against students who had petitioned for optional Kurdish courses at university level were dropped. Some legal obstacles remain, however, to public education in languages spoken in Turkey other than Turkish, including Kurdish. We discuss with our EU partners on a regular basis these and all other issues with a bearing on Turkey's EU candidature.

Turkey

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are discussing with the Turkish Government:
	(a) the implementation of recently announced improvements in the treatment of suspects after arrest; and,
	(b) the removal from office of the Mayor of the city of Van, who alleges that he was not allowed to present his defence.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The implementation of improvements in the treatment of suspects after arrest was discussed in general terms between my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and the Turkish Foreign Minister during the latter's visit to London on 24 September. It is a theme of our discussions about Turkey with our EU partners. The second session of the formal human rights dialogue, launched in June, between officials from the UK and Turkey will take place this winter. The implementation of Turkey's recent reforms is expected to be on the agenda.
	We are aware of the case of Sabahattin Ozarslaner, who was elected Mayor of Van in 1999 from the Peoples' Democracy Party. We are monitoring developments closely and intend to discuss this case with the Turkish authorities at the next session of the human rights dialogue.

Ascension Island

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make an announcement on democratic development on Ascension Island.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The residents of Ascension Island voted overwhelmingly in August this year to establish an Island Council. This was a key step towards a democratic system of government, the first in the island's history. The election of councillors took place on 1 November, and has resulted in a broad cross-section of the island's population being represented on the Island Council. We hope that the Island Council will work closely with the Administrator and the Governor for the long-term benefit of Ascension Island.

EU: Forthcoming Council Business and Major Events

Baroness David: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union for November, and what are the major European Union events for the period 30 November 2002 and May 2003.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: European Calendar: November 2002–May 2003
		
			 Date Location Event 
			 November 2002 
			 4 Brussels Culture Council 
			 5 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 6 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 7 Brussels Health Council 
			 7–8 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 11 Brussels EU/Russia Summit 
			 11–12 Brussels Education, Youth and Culture  Council 
			 14–15 Brussels Internal Market, Consumer Affairs  and Tourism Council 
			 18–19 Brussels General Affairs and External  Relations Council (+ Defence) 
			 21 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 21–22 Brussels Aarhus—Informal Sports Ministers 
			 25–26 Brussels Budget Meeting 
			 25–26 Brussels Industry and Energy Council 
			 28 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 28–29 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs and Civil  Protection Council 
			 29–30 Copenhagen Enhanced European Co-operation  (Ministerial) 
			 December 2002 
			 2 Brussels Meeting on Macro Economic  Dialogue (Ministerial Troika) 
			 3 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 2–3 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health  and Consumer Affairs Council 
			 4 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 5 Brussels Transport and Telecom Council 
			 6 Brussels Transport and Telecom Council 
			 9 Brussels General Affairs Council 
			 10 Brussels Environment Council 
			 12–15 Copenhagen European Council 
			 16–17 Brussels Fisheries Council 
			 19 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 20 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs and Civil  Protection Council 
			 20-21 Brussels Convention Plenary—External  Action and Defence working  group conclusions 
			 January 2003 
			 9 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 9 Brussels Agriculture and Fisheries Council  (tbc) 
			 16 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 20 Brussels EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 20 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 20-21 Brussels Agriculture and Fisheries Council 
			 21 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 24 Nafplion Employment Council (Ministerial  Informal) 
			 27–28 Brussels General Affairs and External  Relations Council 
			 28 Brussels EU–ASEAN Ministerial 
			 30 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 February 2003 
			 5 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 6–7 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 10-11 Brussels Agriculture and Fisheries Council  (tbc) 
			 13 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 17 Brussels EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 18 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 20 Brussels Education, Youth and Culture  Council (tbc) 
			 22 Thessaloniki Energy Council (Ministerial  Informal) 
			 24–25 Brussels General Affairs and External Relations Council Agriculture and  Fisheries 
			 26 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 27–28 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 27–28 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs Council 
			 28 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health  and Consumer Affairs Council 
			 March 2003 
			 1–2 Ioannina Informal Education 
			 3 Brussels Competitiveness Council 
			 4 Brussels Environment Council 
			 6 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 6 Luxembourg Employment, Social Policy, Health  and Consumer Affairs Council 
			 6 Luxembourg EUROGROUP (evening) 
			 7 Luxembourg ECOFIN 
			 7 Luxembourg Transport, Telecom and Energy  Council 
			 13 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 14–15 Athens (Informal Defence Meeting) 
			 17–18 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 17–18 Luxembourg Agriculture and Fisheries Council 
			 18–19 Luxembourg General Affairs and External  Relations Council 
			 21 Brussels European Council 
			 27 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 27 Veria Justice and Home Affairs Council  (Ministerial Informal) 
			 27–28 Luxembourg Transport, Telecom and Energy  Council 
			 28 Athens EU-Rio Group, EU-MERCOSUR 
			 28–29 Veria Informal Justice and Home Affairs  (Veria) 
			 31 Brussels Agriculture and Fisheries Council  (tbc) 
			 April 2003 
			 2 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 3–4 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 4 Brussels Justice and Home Affairs 
			 4–6 Hania (Crete) Informal ECOFIN (Ministerial) 
			 5 Lisbon Europe/Africa Summit 
			 5 Ioannina Ministerial Meeting on Education  (Informal) 
			 10 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 11–13 Chania ECOFIN (Informal) 
			 14 Brussels General Affairs and External  Relations 
			 14 Brussels Agriculture and Fisheries 
			 16 Athens European Conference 
			 16 Athens Signature of the Accession  (Provisional Date) 
			 23 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 24–25 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 May 2003 
			 2–4 (Greece) Gymnich (Informal Foreign  Ministers) 
			 5 Athens Informal Environment (Ministerial) 
			 5–6 Brussels Education, Youth and Culture  Council (tbc) 
			 8 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 12–13 Brussels Informal Agriculture (Ministerial) 
			 12 Brussels EUROGROUP 
			 13 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 14 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 14 Brussels Transport, Telecom and Energy  Council 
			 15–16 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 16 Brussels EU/ACP Ministerial 
			 16–17 Halkidiki Informal Regional Policy  (Ministerial) 
			 16–18 Athens (Cruise) Informal Transport and Merchant  Marine (Ministerial) 
			 17 Brussels EU/W. Balkans (Zagreb Process) 
			 19 Brussels General Affairs and External  Relations (+ Defence) 
			 20 Brussels General Affairs and External  Relations 
			 22 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidium 
			 24 Thessaloniki Informal Culture (Ministerial) 
			 26–27 Brussels Agriculture and Fisheries Council 
			 26–27 Athens EUROMED Conference (Mid Term  Ministerial) 
			 27 Brussels Environment Council 
			 28 Brussels Meeting of the Praesidum 
			 30–31 Brussels Convention Plenary 
			 31 St Petersburg EU/Russia Summit

Exercise Saif Sareea II

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the maximum number of personnel deployed on Exercise Saif Sareea II allocated to: (a) the Joint Force Air Component; (b) the Joint Force Logistic Component; and (c) the Joint Force Maritime Component.

Lord Bach: I will write to the noble Lord and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Gulf War Veterans: Correspondence

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House (a) the ministerial correspondence relating to variants of Gulf War syndrome sent to Dr Brian Iddon MP, as placed by the Government in the Library of the House of Commons (HC Deb, 160W, 16 July); and (b) Professor Haley's response to that correspondence in his letter of 16 September, a copy of which has been sent to the Secretary of State for Defence by Dr Iddon.

Lord Bach: A copy of the ministerial correspondence sent to Dr Brian Iddon MP (reference: D/US of S/LM PQ 4853M/4855M/4863M/02/Y dated 12 August 2002) was placed in the Library of the House of Lords on 13 August 2002. I will also place in the Library of the House a copy of Professor Haley's letter of 16 September 2002, which was sent to the Minister for Veterans for comment by Dr Brian Iddon MP on 22 October 2002.

Gulf War Veterans: Correspondence

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What response they are making to Professor Robert W Haley's offer of assistance in his letter of 16 September commenting on the ministerial correspondence sent to Dr Brian Iddon MP relating to Gulf War veterans.

Lord Bach: I will write to the noble Lord and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Major (Retired) Christine Lloyd

Lord Morris of Manchester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bach on 16 October (WA 52-53) about the case of Major (Retired) Christine Lloyd, a Gulf war veteran, what further representations they have now received from her, what reply they are sending; and whether there is any action they will be taking.

Lord Bach: I have received a letter dated 20 October 2002 from Major (Retired) Christine Lloyd. I will reply to her in due course.

Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, Section 11

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they are making towards resolving the concerns of the Internet Service Providers Association in respect of Section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, with particular reference to the interpretation that the draft code of practice, whether voluntary or mandatory, is in breach of current United Kingdom and European data protection legislation.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 requires consultation with both the Information Commissioner and the industry before any code of practice is published.
	The Internet Service Providers Association is involved in this consultation process which we hope will reach a conclusion shortly.

Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, Section 11

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thornton on 29 October "why full implementation of Section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001, with particular reference to the issuance of a draft code of practice for consideration by Parliament under the affirmative resolution procedure, has been delayed beyond the timescale outlined by Lord Rooker on 11 December 2001 (HL Deb, col. 1287)".

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The consultation process referred to in Section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 has been more protracted than anticipated. This process is now drawing to a close.

Racist Rallies

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether racist rallies are unlawful; and what enforcement action may be taken to prevent them.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Under the Public Order Act 1986 it is an offence to use threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to stir up racial hatred against anyone on the grounds of colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins. A power of arrest for police officers is attached to this offence.
	Under Section 14 of the same Act, the police are also able to attach conditions to public assemblies in order to avoid serious disorder, serious damage, intimidation or serious disruption to the life of the community.

Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, Section 36(2)

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to amend the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 in order to make it an offence for anyone who is disqualified from working with children to work in any residential centre established under, or otherwise provided for in, Immigration Acts (as defined in the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill).

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It is not our intention to amend the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 in the way outlined in the question. A similar proposal to add accommodation centres to the short list of institutions specifically referred to in Section 36(2) of the Act was extensively discussed at Committee and Report stage of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill and defeated in a vote.
	The Government share the concern to protect children, but, as we made clear in the debate, we do not believe such a measure would increase the protection already offered by the legislation.
	Section 35(1) of the CJCSA 2000 states that, "An individual who is disqualified from working with children is guilty of an offence if he knowingly applies for, or offers to do, accepts or does any work in a regulated position". It goes on to say that an individual who knowingly offers work in a regulated position to a person disqualified from working with children is also guilty of an offence.
	It is important to note that those who work (paid or unpaid) in any of the establishments established under, or provided for in, Immigration Acts, whose normal duties include caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children are already covered by the CJCSA provisions as they currently stand.
	We fully intend to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken to protect children housed with their families in institutions provided for under Immigration Acts.

National Policing Plan

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made with the drafting of the National Policing Plan; what discussions have been held with the voluntary sector about its content; and to what extent will road safety and traffic policing issues be reflected in the final documents.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary will lay the National Policing Plan before Parliament before the end of November. The National Policing Forum advises the Home Secretary on the National Policing Plan and its membership includes a representative of a victim support organisation and two other members of voluntary organisations. The contribution of policing to road safety will be reflected in the plan.

War Memorials

Lord Orme: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to take steps to protect war memorials in England and Wales.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: With assistance from Friends of War Memorials, the Imperial War Museum, English Heritage and others, we are tomorrow publishing a code of practice on the preservation and management of war memorials. A copy of the text is being placed on the Home Office website and is in the Library. A leaflet will be available shortly.

Race Equality Advisory Panel

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the terms of reference of the Race Equality Advisory Panel; how often the panel meets; and what is the cost per annum of this initiative.

Lord Filkin: The terms of reference of the Race Equality Advisory Panel have not yet been finally agreed but are likely to be along the lines of:
	The Race Equality Advisory Panel will be a source of advice on matters related to race equality. It will:
	Help develop strategy on race equality;
	Advise on implementing and delivering existing policy/programmes;
	Provide ad hoc advice on specific topics;
	Provide a link to communities.
	The working arrangements of the panel are also yet to be finalised, but it is envisaged that it will meet as a whole when necessary and that members will be asked to attend specific meetings with officials and Ministers when their particular expertise is required.
	The cost per annum is difficult to estimate in advance as members will be reimbursed for lost earnings and the travel and subsistence costs incurred by their attendance.

Race Equality Advisory Panel

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will name the members of the Race Equality Advisory Panel; what is each individual's age; how the panel was selected and appointed; and what is the expertise of each member.

Lord Filkin: Members have not yet been appointed to the Race Equality Advisory Panel.
	All the members of the Race Relations Forum have been invited to register an interest in these positions.
	I will write to the noble Lord once further details are known.

Asylum Applications: Doctors

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy concerning trained medical doctors who arrive in the United Kingdom and apply for asylum; and also towards those who have exhausted the legal remedies.

Lord Filkin: All applications for asylum in the United Kingdom are considered individually on their merits in accordance with the UK's obligations under the 1951 UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol. Only those who are able to demonstrate that they are in need of international protection will be granted refugee status. The fact that an asylum seeker may have professional qualifications does not mean that his application will be expedited or receive more favourable treatment. It is government policy that those who receive a final negative decision on their application should leave the country unless they qualify to remain on humanitarian grounds or in accordance with the Immigration Rules. This applies equally to those with medical or other professional qualifications.

Race Equality in Public Service

Lord Morgan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to publish the third edition of Race Equality in Public Services.

Lord Filkin: We have today placed in the Library a copy of the document Race Equality in Public Services. The publication shows a number of areas of general improvement in public service delivery and in representation of ethnic minorities in the public sector workforce.

Immigration Control

Baroness David: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to improve immigration control to ensure that people coming into the United Kingdom do so in accordance with the Immigration Rules.

Lord Filkin: The Government are firmly committed to ensuring that those who seek to migrate to the United Kingdom but have no grounds for doing so under the Immigration Rules are prevented from coming here.
	Throughout this year there has been an increase in the number of Zimbabwe nationals who, on arrival at UK ports, are found to be inadmissible. Therefore, from 00.01 hours on Saturday 9 November we will require nationals of Zimbabwe to obtain visas to come to the United Kingdom. Zimbabwe nationals will also have to obtain a direct airside transit visa when they intend to remain airside while in transit through the United Kingdom.
	To avoid any undue hardship for those who have already made their travel plans, we have agreed to the operation of the following grace period. From 00.01 hours on 9 November to 23.59 hours on 15 November, any Zimbabwe national who purchased his ticket on or before 7 November and is travelling to the UK on a direct journey from Zimbabwe will not be refused entry solely on the basis of not holding a valid visa.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When and why they decided that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission needed members with community and grass-roots involvement or with political astuteness and awareness or an international perspective; and which members embody these requirements.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: All 22 candidates who were interviewed were of a very high calibre. The interview panel met on 12 June 2001 and concluded that it would be important for any new appointeees to bring different skills or experiences to the commission to complement those skills already present.
	The Government are subject to the Commissioner for Public Appointments' guidance that requires that appointments be made on merit, and all the appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission followed this overriding principle. Those candidates who were selected by the panel as being suitable for appointment were also credited with having expertise in the agreed categories, bringing a balance of skills and background to the commission.
	We cannot disclose which candidates were felt to embody particular skills as that would breach the confidentiality of the interview process.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Who appointed Ms Inez McCormack and Professor Christine Bell to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Section 68(2) of the Northern Ireland Act requires the Secretary of State to make appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Ms Inez McCormack and Professor Christine Bell were both appointed to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 1 March 1999 by the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Marjorie Mowlam.

North and West Belfast Police Raids

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether confidential information recovered by the Police Service of Northern Ireland as a result of recent raids in Stormont, north and west Belfast contains (a) any documents dated after September 2001; and (b) any transcripts of, or documentation concerning, conversations between the Prime Minister and the President of the United States; and
	Whether, in the intelligence information gathered recently from raids in north and west Belfast, there was any confidential information about contacts between the Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The documents in question are currently being analysed and forensically examined. This is being done as part of a criminal investigation in which the documents play a central part. The nature of the information requested and its release into the public domain may adversely affect the ongoing investigation and any subsequent prosecution.

Northern Ireland Block Grant

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the projected current underspend for the Northern Ireland block grant for the year 2002–03.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Northern Ireland Block Grant for 2002–03 of £8,088,999,000, as presented in the NIO's main estimates, is currently the best estimate of likely expenditure. This amount is subject to revision throughout the year and any changes will be reflected in the appropriate NIO supplementary estimate.

Belfast Agreement: Cross-Border Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the current salary scales, expenses and pension provisions for the chief executives of all cross-border bodies set up under the Belfast Agreement; whether each chief executive officer started at the lowest point on the scale; and, if not, why not.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The information requested relating to chief executives of cross-border bodies is set out in the annex attached.
	
		Chief Executive Officer Salary, Pension and Expense Provisions
		
			 Chief Executive Current Salary Range Did CEO start at Lowest Point on Range Reason Expense Provision Pension Provision 
			 Waterways Ireland £70,725-£83,025 No The starting salary was negotiated with the successful candidate and was agreed between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Finance The CEO is paid expenses wholly, properly and reasonably incurred in the performance of his duties The body has no pension scheme at present but it is envisaged that the North/South Pension Scheme will be introduced in the near future. 
			 The Food Safety Promotion Board £50,828-£63,536 (E81,981-E102,478) No The starting salary was negotiated with the successful candidate and was agreed between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Finance The CEO is paid expenses wholly, properly and reasonably incurred in the performance of his duties The body has no pension scheme at present but it is envisaged that the North/South Pension Scheme will be introduced in the near future. 
			 The Trade and Business Development Body — InterTradeIreland £51,500-£72,100 No The starting salary was negotiated with the successful candidate and was agreed between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Finance The CEO is paid expenses wholly, properly and reasonably incurred in the performance of his duties The CEO remains a member of the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (NI) but it is envisaged that the North/South Pension Scheme will be introduced in the near future. 
			 The Special EU Programmes Body £51,250-£66,953 No The starting salary was negotiated with the successful candidate and was agreed between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Finance The CEO is paid expenses wholly, properly and reasonably incurred in the performance of his duties The body has no pension scheme at present but it is envisaged that the North/South Pension Scheme will be introduced in the near future. 
			 Foras Na Gaeilge E87,319-E100,200 Yes  The CEO is paid expenses wholly, properly and reasonably incurred in the performance of his duties The body has no pension scheme at present but it is envisaged that the North/South Pension Scheme will be introduced in the near future. 
			 Tha Boord o Ulster-Scotch £43,013-£52,185 E68,276-E82,834 Post Vacant Post Vacant Post Vacant The body has no pension scheme at present but it is envisaged that the North/South Pension Scheme will be introduced in the near future. 
			 FCILC Loughs Agency £53,511-£63,946 (which includes a pension provision of 4.4%) Also receives an amount for the use of a car. No The starting salary was negotiated with the successful candidate and was agreed between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Finance The CEO is paid expenses wholly, properly and reasonably incurred in the performance of his duties The body has no pension scheme at present but it is envisaged that the North/South Pension Scheme will be introduced in the near future. 
			 Tourism Ireland E95,230-E115,062  or £59,042-£71,339 No The starting salary was negotiated with the successful candidate and was agreed between the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Finance The CEO is paid expenses wholly, properly and reasonably incurred in the performance of his duties The body has no pension scheme at present but it is envisaged that the North/South Pension Scheme will be introduced in the near future.

Belfast Agreement: Cross-Border Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the financial accounting year for the cross-Border implementation bodies set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998; whether there are any other accounting years that apply; and, if so, how.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: In accordance with the requirements of the Implementation Bodies Agreement made on 8 March 1999 between the UK and Irish Governments, each implementation body must comply with a financial memorandum which prescribes its detailed financial arrangements. This specifies that the financial year for accounting purposes of the body will be the calendar year.

Belfast Agreement: Cross-Border Bodies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many full-time employees there were in each cross-Border body set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998, taking the Irish Agency and the Ulster Scots Agency separately, currently and for the year 2000 and the year 2001.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The information requested, which relates to the numbers of full-time staff (whole-time equivalent) employed in cross-Border bodies currently and for the year 2000 and 2001 is set out below:
	
		
			 Body 31 December 2000 31 December 2001 October 2002 
			 Food Safety Promotion Board 6 18 24 
			 FCILC Loughs Agency 25 36 37 
			 InterTrade Ireland 1 24 34.7 
			 Language – Foras na Gaeilge 38 35 36 
			 Language – Ulster Scots Agency 3 4 4 
			 Special EU Programmes Body 20 26 30 
			 Waterways Ireland 260 242 295 
			 Tourism Ireland 0 2 122

Belfast Agreement: Lighthouses

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, and if so when, the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission will acquire responsibility for all lighthouses around Ireland, as agreed in the Belfast Agreement in March 1998; and what has been the cause of the delay in implementation of this part of the agreement.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The North/South Ministerial Council at its last plenary meeting on 28 June 2002 considered the provisions of the agreement that established the North/South bodies for the transfer of functions carried out by the Irish Lights Commissioners to Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission. Recognising the complex issues surrounding such a transfer, the council asked relevant Ministers and departments, North and South, to examine urgently the alternative possibilities and make proposals to the council.

North/South Ministerial Council

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When was the most recent meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council in any format; whether issues relating to the Language Implementation Body was discussed; if so, what; how and when any decisions will be supplied to the co-chairmen of the body; and if decisions were taken in which expenditure is envisaged, what will be the source of funding.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The most recent meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council was in the Special EU Programmes Sector on 9 October 2002.
	At that meeting council considered a paper which related to the Language Sector concerning a project involving An Gum and the Department of Education and Science. Council noted and agreed the project, the continuation of the recruitment process for two assistant editor posts for An Gum and approved that the salary scale can attract future general round increases in the South as appropriate and with the approval of both Finance Ministers. The Department of Education and Science in the South is to provide all financial resources to carry out the work, including production, printing, publishing, design and employment costs.
	The decisions reached by council were communicated to the joint chairperson of the Language Body on 22 October 2002.

North/South Ministerial Council

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many joint communiques concerning the language sector have been issued by the North/South Ministerial Council since its creation under the Belfast Agreement of 1998; on what date; what were the topics; and whether they were forwarded directly to the co-chairpersons of the language body.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Joint communiques concerning the language sector were issued on 10 occasions, details of which are provided in the attached annex.
	There have been four North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meetings in the language sector. In addition, on five occasions issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge were discussed at NSMC meetings in other sectors. Issues relating to The Boord o Ulster Scotch were discussed at one NSMC meeting, whch was held on 9 October 2002.
	The joint communiques relating to meetings in the Language Sector have now been forwarded to the noble Lord and arrangements are in hand for the issue of joint communiques from other meetings at which language issues were discussed.
	
		
			 Dates of NSMC  Meetings Sector Date communiques  issued Topics discussed Issued to 
			 21 June 2000 Language 31 August 2000 Issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge and The Boord o Ulster Scotch CEO The Boord o Ulster Scotch CEO Foras na Gaeilge 
			 5 December 2000 Language 14 December 2000 Issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge and The Boord o  Ulster Scotch Co-chairpersons of The Boord o Ulster Scotch and Foras na Gaeilge 
			 7 December 2001 Language 17 January 2002 Issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge and The Boord o Ulster Scotch Co-chairpersons of The Boord o Ulster Scotch and Foras na Gaeilge 
			 14 June 2002 Language 5 July 2002 Issues relating to Foras na Gaeilge and The Boord o Ulster Scotch Co-chairpersons of The Boord o Ulster Scotch and Foras na Gaeilge 
			 30 March 2001 Tourism 30 March 2001 Provision of assistance to chairperson of Foras na Gaeilge Minister and officials in the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment 
			 27 June 2001 Waterways Ireland 27 June 2001 Draft strategic plan—Foras na Gaeilge selection process salary range for CEO Foras na Gaeilge Minister and officials in the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure 
			 23 November 2001 Waterways Ireland 23 November 2001 Appointment of CEO— Foras na Gaeilge Minister and officials in the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure 
			 25 January 2002 Agriculture 29 January 2002 Appointment of CEO— Foras na Gaeilge Chairperson of Foras na Gaeilge 
			 15 April 2002 Agriculture 18 April 2002 Report on recruitment of staff at director level—Foras na Gaeilge Chairperson of Foras na Gaeilge 
			 15 April 2002 Agriculture 18 April 2002 Appointment of new board member—Foras na Gaeilge Co-chairpersons of The Boord o Ulster Scotch and Foras na Gaeilge 
			 9 October 2002 SEUP 22 October 2002 Project between An Gum and Dept of Education and Science Co-chairpersons of The Boord o Ulster Scotch and Foras na Gaeilge

North/South Ministerial Council

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will ensure that the text of all documentation from the North/South Ministerial Council, as set up in the Belfast Agreement of 1998, refers to the two component parts as the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The nomenclature used to refer to the parties to the Belfast Agreement is a matter for each administration.
	Documentation from the North/South Ministerial Council is produced by agreement with administrations, North and South.

Irish Government: Human Rights Commmission

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Irish Government have established a Human Rights Commission equivalent to that within Northern Ireland, as required under the Belfast Agreement; and, if so, whether its membership includes representation from the ethnic and Protestant minorities; how often this commission meets; and what reports it has published.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Irish Government established a Human Rights Commission on 25 July 2001 in accordance with the terms of the Human Rights Commission Acts 2000 and 2001, but it is currently not in full operation. The commission has a mandate and remit broadly similar to that of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in Belfast, although there are some differences, notably with regard to the means by which it can conduct public or private enquiries.
	The commission meets at least once per month and meetings of the joint committee of representatives of the two commissions (North and South) established under the Good Friday Agreement are held every three months.
	Membership of the commission is not based on religious background, but rather is representative of Irish society as a whole and includes persons from the ethnic minorities. To date the commission has published two reports.

Irish Government: Employment Equality Legislation

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made by the Irish Government to enhance employment equality legislation, as required by the Belfast Agreement; and whether knowledge of the Irish language is still a requirement for employment in some of the public service.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: In accordance with the commitment in the Belfast Agreement to implement enhanced employment equality legislation, the Employment Equality Act 1998 was implemented in the Republic of Ireland with effect from 18 October 1999. The Employment Equality Act 1988, which replaced the Anti-Discrimination (Pay) Act 1974 and the Employment Equality Act 1977, extends the grounds on which discrimination in relation to employment is prohibited to family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community as well as gender and marital status which were covered by the earlier legislation.
	The Employment Equality Act 1998 allows for the application of provisions in relation to proficiency in the Irish language in respect of certain public service employments; namely, holding of office under, or in the service of, the state (including the Garda Siochana and Defence Forces) or otherwise as a civil servant, officers or servants of a local authority, a harbour authority, a health board or a vocational education committee and teachers in primary and post-primary schools.

Irish Government: Equal Status Legislation

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made by the Irish Government in introducing equal status legislation, as required by the Belfast Agreement.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Under the Good Friday Agreement, Strand III—Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity—there is a commitment by the Irish Government to introduce equal status legislation. This commitment was met by the implementation of the Equal Status Act 2000 which came into operation from 25 October 2000 in the Republic of Ireland.
	The Equal Status Act prohibits direct and indirect discrimination on the grounds of gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, colour, nationality, national or ethnic origin and membership of the Travelling community. Victimisation where an individual is treated less favourably as a result of having participated in processes under the legislation is also prohibited by the measure. The Act outlaws discrimination in all services that are generally available to the public, whether provided by the state or the private sector.

Irish Government: Respect for Traditions

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress has been made by the Irish Government to demonstrate the respect for the different traditions in the island of Ireland; how the status of the Orange Institution and the Ulster Scots Language has been enhanced in the Republic of Ireland since the Belfast Agreement; and whether they have made representations to the Irish Government to implement this section of the Belfast Agreement.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Irish Government's commitment to demonstrate their respect for the different traditions in the island of Ireland is an important aspect of the Good Friday Agreement and the Irish Government continue to work actively to fulfil it.
	In support of their efforts in this area, in April 1999 the Irish Government increased the funding available to groups working to achieve peace and mutual understanding between the different traditions on the island of Ireland to IR£2 million per annum ( an eight-fold increase). The moneys are disbursed through the Reconciliation Fund, operated by the Department of Foreign Affairs. This increase enabled the Irish Government to provide grants worth IR£4 million to 137 organisations involved in a wide range of cross-community, educational, research and outreach activities in 1999 and 2000.
	An inter-departmental committee was established on 9 January 1998 with responsibility for development of the Battle of the Boyne site. The committee is making good progress on this historic project which has unique symbolic significance for the Unionist tradition in Ireland. Indeed, the Independent Loyal Orange Institution launched its centenary celebrations at the Boyne site on 29 June 2002. Many individuals and groups have visited the site, which has been opened, on a limited scale initially, to visitors.
	With regard to the Ulster Scots language, an Ulster-Scots Agency is one of the two constituent agencies which comprise the North/South Language Body, the other being the Irish Language Agency, Foras na Gaeilge. As part of the language body, the Ulster-Scots Agency reports to the North/South Ministerial Council, which meets in the Language Sector to take decisions on policies and actions to be taken by the body.The agency's budget for 2002 is 2.4 million euro, of which the Irish Government contribute 600,000 euro, just less than 25 per cent.maria

Northern Ireland Executive: Drivers and Bodyguards

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether all drivers and bodyguards for the Northern Ireland Executive are security checked, including for illegal weapons, at the entrance to government buildings, including Stormont Parliament Buildings.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive Committee no longer hold office as from midnight on Monday 14 October, 2002.
	Personnel using government buildings are subject to appropriate access controls according to security advice. This does not currently require routine physical checks.

Irish Language Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any money has been paid directly to the Irish Language Agency, set up under the Belfast Agreement of 1998, by the Government of the Republic of Ireland since 1 January 2000; if so, how much; and why.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Irish Language Agency is jointly funded from moneys voted by the Northern Ireland Assembly and Dail Eireann. Since 1 January 2000 the Government of the Republic of Ireland have made the following payments through the sponsor department, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (formerly the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands), to the Irish Language Agency:
	Calendar year 2000 IR£ 5,875,945
	Calendar year 2001 IR£ 9,838,274
	Calendar year 2002 to date euro 10,987,500

Omagh Bombing

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they became aware of allegations, published in the Sunday Times of 20 October, that the Irish police authorities had advance knowledge of the Omagh bomb of 1998 and refused to inform the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and what representation they have made to the Government of the Irish Republic.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The former Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform of the Irish Government, John O'Donoghue, stated on 8 May 2002 that the Garda Commissioner had assured him that there is no basis for any suggestion that there was information available to the Garda Siochana which could have enabled them to prevent the Omagh atrocity.

Belfast Agreement: Food Safety Promotion Board

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Under what equality legislation the Food Safety Promotion Board, set up under the terms of the Belfast Agreement of 1998, acts; and what is the gender and religious balance of the body.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Food Safety Promotion Board operates from a base in Cork, although it provides a service to the entire island of Ireland. The relevant employment legislation that applies to the Food Safety Promotion Board is the Employment Equality Act 1998 and the Equal Status Act 2000. This particular Act outlaws discrimination on the same nine grounds as the Employment Equality Act 1998 but in the provision of services. The FSPB also operates under Section 75 and Schedule 9 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 to promote equality of opportunity.
	It is not a requirement of the legislation to monitor the religious breakdown of the staff.
	Details of the Food Safety Promotion Board staffing and gender balance were provided in response to Parliamentary Question HL6077.

Northern Ireland: Private Hospital Beds

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the number of private hospital beds in Northern Ireland per 100,000 population.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: There are 1.5 private beds per 100,000 population in NHS hospitals in Northern Ireland.
	A number of trusts indicated that they did not have beds dedicated exclusively for private use. However, if a patient requests private treatment and a bed is available then the request would be facilitated.

Northern Ireland: Post-primary Education

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In how many electoral wards in Northern Ireland citizens were consulted on the subject of transfer from primary to secondary education; and in how many of these wards the majority of consultees favoured the continuation of academic selection.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Every household in each of the 582 electoral wards in Northern Ireland was consulted about the review of post-primary education. The average response rate across all wards was 16 per cent. In 418 wards responses supporting the continuation of academic selection constituted a majority of those responding.

Northern Ireland Office: Security Review

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes they propose to make to levels of security checking of all staff employed in the Northern Ireland Office as a result of the recent alleged breach of security.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: This will be considered in the light of the recommendation arising from the security review announced by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 15 October 2002 (Official Report, column 200).

Northern Ireland: Consultant Vacancies

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the shortage of doctors, by specialty, in Northern Ireland.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The number of consultant vacancies by specialty within trusts is as follows:
	
		
			 Trust Vacant Post 
			 Altnagelvin Area Hospital Anaesthetics (2 posts) Medical Oncology (1 post) Microbiology (1 post) Urology (1 post) Total = 5 vacancies 
			  
			 Belfast City Hospital Accident & Emergency (2 posts) Anaesthetics (1 post) Clinical Oncology (1 post) Medical Oncology (1 post) Medicine (3 posts) Pathology (4 posts) Radiology (1 post) Total = 13 vacancies 
			  
			 Causeway Surgery (1 post) Total = 1 vacancy 
			  
			 Craigavon Area Hospital Breast Surgery (1 post) Cardiology (2 posts) Geriatric (1 post) Obstetrics & Gynaecology (1 post) Radiology (1 post) Respiratory Medicine (1 post) Total = 7 vacancies 
			  
			 Down Lisburn Accident & Emergency (1 post) Anaesthetics (1 post) Cardiology (1 post) General Medicine (1 post) General Surgery (1 post) Total = 5 vacancies 
			  
			 Foyle Psychiatry (2 posts) Total = 2 posts 
			  
			 Homefirst Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (1 post) Adult Psychiatry (1 post) Total = 2 vacancies 
			  
			 Mater Hospital Anaesthetics (1 post) Cardiology (1 post) Haematology (1 post) Surgery (1 post) Total = 4 vacancies 
			  
			 Newry & Mourne Nephrology (1 post) Radiology (1 post) Respiratory Physician (1 post) Total = 3 vacancies 
			  
			 North & West Belfast Learning Disability (1 post) Total = 1 vacancy 
			  
			 Royal Group of Hospitals Accident & Emergency (1 post) Anaesthetics (2 posts) Cardiac Surgery (1 post) Dermatology (1 post) Fractures (2 posts) General Surgery (1 post) Genitary Urinary Medicine (1 post) Histopathology (2 posts) Microbiology (1 post) Neonatology (1 post) Neurology (1 post) Oral Surgery (1 post) Paediatric Gastroenterology (1 post) Total = 16 vacancies 
			  
			 Sperrin Lakeland Accident & Emergency (1 post) Anaesthetics (1 post) Paediatrics (3 posts) Radiology (2 posts) Respiratory Physician (1 post) Total = 8 vacancies 
			  
			 Ulster Community & Hospitals Anaesthetics (1 post) ENT (1 post) Rheumatology (1 post) Urology (1 post) Total = 4 vacancies 
			  
			 United Hospitals Anaesthetics (2 posts) General Medicine (1 post) Hystopathology/Cytopathology (1 post) Paediatrics (1 post) Radiology (3 posts) Total = 8 vacancies

Honours Scrutiny Committee

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the responsibilities of the Honours Scrutiny Committee.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The membership of the Honours Scrutiny Committee and its responsibilities are set out in an Order of Council dated 18 October 2002. Copies of the Order have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Prime Minister: Visits to Countryside

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 31 October (WA39), whether they will provide details of the Prime Minister's visits in an official capacity to the countryside of the United Kingdom, excluding holidays, between 1997 and 29 May 2002.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Records of the Prime Minister's official visits are not categorised in this way. The Prime Minister's office records show that since 1997 the Prime Minister has undertaken the visits in the list which I am placing in the Library. The Prime Minister's visits cover a range of matters, including health, education and tourism. He also travels regularly to his constituency.
	The Prime Minister travels making the most efficient and cost-effective arrangements. His travel arrangements are in accordance with the arrangements for official travel set out in Chapter 7 of the Ministerial Code and the accompanying guidance document, Travel by Ministers.

Pensions

Lord Higgins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is still the view, expressed in the Green Paper Partnership in Pensions (1998), that the balance spent on pensions by the state and private sectors will change from 60 per cent state and 40 per cent private to 40 per cent state and 60 per cent private.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: I refer the noble Lord to the response provided to the honourable Member for Northavon in the other place on 20 May 2002 (Official Report cols, 40W-41W) and on 3 July (Official Report cols 420W-421W).